OSHA is inspecting and citing healthcare facilities for not conducting annual fit-testing for respirator protection from tuberculosis exposure, and now healthcare facilities are scrambling to come up to compliance on what is sometimes a time-consuming and expensive exercise.

The November issue of Medical Environment Update reports on end of the 2008 fiscal year OSHA inspection data for offices and clinics of doctors of medicine, also categorized as standard industrial classification (SIC) 801. Inspections and citations were down from last year for SIC 801, which covers physician practices of all specialties and sizes and include ambulatory surgical centers

While inspections and citations decreased, bloodborne pathogens remained the most frequently cited standard for violations.